The Best Montessori Toys For 18 Month Old Toddlers
Discover these top-rated Montessori toys for 18 month old toddlers. Our expert recommendations will help you choose the best presents for 18 month old toddlers that support their development.
A Montessori toy can be a great addition to any kids’ playroom and toy rotation for all ages. Our range of 18 month boy toys and toddler toys are perfect for screen-free activities that promote children’s development, fine motor skills, language skills, and hand-eye coordination. They also encourage problem-solving, spatial awareness, pretend play, self-directed play, imaginary play, creative play, and life skills.
The best Montessori toys 1 year old toddlers will love include:
Wooden toys, natural fabric play mats, coloring sets, toys for imaginary play, toys for sensory development, building blocks and block sets, color sorting games, sandboxes, and play food.
So Handmade’s range of toddler travel toys focuses on promoting problem-solving skills through interactive play. Our screen-free options make ideal Christmas gifts for 18 month old toddlers, as they keep little ones entertained during long journeys while contributing to their overall growth and learning. Our toys are also perfect as a gift for 18 month old toddlers. Be sure to check out our highly-rated play mats and toys!
Finding the perfect gift ideas for an 18 month old can be exciting, especially with so many options for Montessori toys for 19 month olds that encourage development and exploration. If you're searching for 18 month old gift ideas or the best gifts for 18 month olds, consider toys that promote sensory play, such as baby toys or plush toys. Toys for 20 month olds, like learning toys or simple toys, can also be great choices for this age group. Musical instruments are another excellent option, helping to engage little ones in creative and interactive play while enhancing their sensory experiences.
Our educational toys also help build early math skills, including counting, making them great counting toys for toddlers.
Check out our collection of screen free toddler toys here!
For more great toy recommendations check out my blog post The Best Montessori Toys For Your Toddlers
Meet The Maker
Sarah Omura's journey into the world of montessori inspired travel toys began with a familiar frustration: the constant battle of keeping her son's toys contained while on the move. Tired of finding stray cars buried in the depths of her diaper bag, Sarah knew there had to be a better solution. Drawing upon her background in textile design, she set out to create toys that were not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing and engaging for young minds.
What Are Montessori Toys
Montessori Toys can be a great addition to any kids play room and toy rotation. These screen free activities can help children’s development and also help them learn problem solving, self directed play and life skills.
Here at So Handmade we have developed a range of Montessori toys including play mats and toys which we believe will not only help a child’s development but will also be fun and open ended to allow many hours of entertainment.
The thoughtful design of these play mats and toys are mixed with the Montessori approach for kids of all ages providing an educational and creative collection of toys.
What is a Montessori Toy?
Montessori toys are educational playthings inspired by the philosophy of Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. These toys are designed to promote hands-on, self-directed learning and to encourage children to explore and discover the world around them at their own pace.
One of the key benefits of Montessori philosophy is their focus on fostering holistic development in children. By providing opportunities for sensory exploration, fine and gross motor skill development, and cognitive growth, these toys support children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well-being.
A Montessori toy is one that stimulates learning by encouraging kids to experiment. It should be a toy that they can hold and touch, as learning to manipulate objects is key in helping children develop their fine motor skills.
What Materials Are Montessori Toys Made From?
Montessori toys are usually made from natural materials such as wood and cottons which is good for the sensory touch of little hands.
So Handmade uses predominantly natural organic fabrics in the construction of our playmats. We use this cotton canvas as it is sustainably woven with organic cotton and it is also durable, washable and has a wonderful texture for little hands. We also use partner with other sustainable small businesses to add wooden toy vehicles to our construction, train and river playmats.
There are also many printable resources available to take part in preschool learning at home like this set of printable alphabet and numbers to trace
Montessori Toys Should:
Promote fine motor skills through exploration
Montessori toys are designed to encourage hands-on interaction, helping children develop fine motor skills through engaging, tactile play. Each toy invites little hands to explore, fostering coordination and dexterity in a fun and natural way.
Engage the child’s senses
By offering varied textures, colors, and shapes, Montessori toys stimulate a child’s senses and support cognitive development through multi-sensory learning. These toys engage children’s natural curiosity, making playtime an enriching experience for both mind and body.
Quality made with natural materials and pleasing to look at
Made from high-quality, eco-friendly materials, Montessori toys are crafted to be durable and aesthetically pleasing, aligning with the Montessori principle of beauty in simplicity. These toys are safe for children and thoughtfully designed to bring harmony into any play space.
No batteries, lights, buttons, or sounds
Montessori toys promote imaginative play without electronic distractions, allowing children to fully immerse themselves in open-ended activities. By removing batteries, lights, and sounds, these toys encourage focus, creativity, and independent exploration.
Ideas for Using Our Montessori Toys in The Play Room
Whether it’s a shelf filled with engaging toys, a sensory bin, or a full floor activity, we offer a variety of options to turn your playroom into a little one’s dream space!
Montessori Travel Toys
Traveling with a little one can be a stressful experience. Especially trying to keep a squirmy toddler buckled into a seat on a long flight or road trip. Going away on vacation of visiting family should be a joy but sometimes the preparation and stress of getting ready for the trip seems to zap all of the anticipation of a great time away.
Having the right toys and other engaging activities for them to do on their tray table, in their laps is the best way to prepare for a fun and exciting trip away. Montessori toys are perfect to bring traveling as they are ‘open ended’ they can perform a multitude of foundations for stories, games and imaginative play.
Check out my collection of Screen Free Toddler Toys for busy kids on the go!
For example a dinosaur play mat could be the base for a brave triceratops to battle the formidable tyrannosaurus. Then the next time it is taken out it could provide the backdrop for a name all the different dino game.
They can also help to promote fine motor skills on the go and help the little one start to learn to read like my Alphabet Learning Toy
Screen Free Montessori Travel Toys
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Montessori Toys for Gifts!
Gifting Montessori toys is a thoughtful way to support a child’s growth and development while offering something unique and meaningful. These toys are designed to encourage creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills through hands-on exploration, making them ideal for fostering a child’s natural curiosity. Montessori toys are often crafted from high-quality, natural materials, ensuring they’re safe, durable, and environmentally friendly. Unlike typical toys with flashing lights and sounds, Montessori toys inspire open-ended play, allowing children to engage deeply and use their imagination. Choosing a Montessori toy as a gift shows a commitment to nurturing a child’s development in a mindful, screen-free way, making it a perfect choice for any occasion.
Here are some specially curated collections to choose from:
The Best Montessori Toys
Choosing So Handmade’s Montessori toys means investing in high-quality, eco-friendly products that nurture a child’s natural love for learning and exploration. Our toys are thoughtfully crafted to align with Montessori principles, focusing on simplicity, beauty, and sensory-rich experiences that engage young minds without the distractions of screens or batteries. By selecting So Handmade, you’re not only giving a child a beautiful, safe, and durable toy but also supporting a brand committed to sustainability and mindful play. Make playtime more enriching—browse our collection today and find the perfect Montessori toy to inspire curiosity and creativity in your little one!
Montessori toys for 18 month olds are designed to spark curiosity and encourage independent play, making them an excellent choice for developing key skills. Montessori style toys are also perfect as toys for a 18 month old, offering hands-on learning experiences that engage young minds. These options are such a good toy investment because they’re not only educational but also so much fun for kids to explore. If you’re looking for Montessori inspired gifts, consider Montessori inspired toys that promote creativity, problem-solving, and a love of learning in a beautifully simple way.